Swift



Jan. 16, 1934. w. E K 1,943,512

SWIFT Filed May 18, 1932 470/ is MBM'e/ ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, I934 mus sates eaten Fries 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to swifts for holding skeins of yarn, to permit the unwinding thereof in the operation of spooling, and more particularly of the type having adjustable and yielding components.

An object of this invention is to provide a swift of novel and improved construction which is adapted for use in the spooling of skeins of Various lengths and bulks.

Another object of this invention is to furnish a device of the character described, which is provided with means to' adjust the tension in the skein.

A further object is to provide an improved swift of the class mentioned which will support a skein thereon always under tension.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a swift of the character described, 111 which only a few small parts are subject to centrifugal force. 7

' A further object of this invention is toprovide a new and improved swift of the class mentioned, upon which it is simple and convenient to mount a skein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned, which includes adjustable skein guards to prohibit any of the strands of the skein to slip off the skein supporting bar.

A further object is to provide a swift in which the height of the skein guard is adjustable independently of any adjustment required to adapt the swift to receive skeins of different lengths.

Another object of this invention is to provide a swift of novel construction of the class mentioned and described, in which the adjustment of any of its various components to create an advantage or carry out a requirement, does not cause an attending detriment in the function of any of the other elements of the device.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a novel and improved swift, none of the parts of which must depend upon any speculative action for their proper functioning, but which act with positiveness and preciseness.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved swift of the character mentioned which is reasonable in price, practical to manufacture, and labor-saving and efficient in use.

To attain these objects, in a preferred embod ment of my present invention, I provide a swift comprised substantially of a series of equally spaced telescopically adjustable spokes, mounted radially on a central hub; each of the free ends of said spokes terminating in a fork having a pair of arms. Between each such pair of arms, is a flexibly suspended skein supporting bar which is urged outwardly and which is movable inwardly and also obliquely with respect to the axis of the hub of the swift. Normally, each of the skein supporting bars is parallel to the axis of said hub. At the remote end of each of the arms of said forks, is acap element which serves asa skein guard and is movable along the arm which it caps.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment shown herein be deemed illustrative and. not restrictive, and that the patent shall cover whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. l is a front elevation of a swift embodying the features of my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the assembly of the telescopically adjustable forked spoke, the skein supporting bar and the skein guards.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken at line 44 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View showing the construction of the ends of the spoke elements.

Fig. 6-is a section at line 6-6 in Fig. 3.

In the drawing, the numeral 15, designates a hub which is provided with a series of equally spaced sockets 16, into each of which is secured a pin 17. Onto each such pin 1'7, by a screw 18, is secured a tubular radial spoke element 19, which is provided at its remote free end with a lengthwise slot 20, for the admission of the shank of a bolt 21, the head of which bolt can pass through the hole 22, which is diametrically oppo- 24 and 25, through the slots 26. This skein supporting bar 28, has secured at each of its ends which protrude respectively into said arms 24 and 25, a coil spring 29; one such coil spring being within each of the arms 24 and 25. The other ends of said coil springs 29, are secured near the remote ends of said arms 24 and 25, while a telescopically slidable skein guard element 30, caps each arm 24 and 25. It is to be noted that all skein supporting bars 28, are normally parallel to each other and to the axis of the hub 15, and they are independently capable of movement toward and away from said axis of the hub 15, and also capable of being tilted with respect to said axis, in oblique position as shown at 35.

Near that end of the spoke extension element 23, which enters the fixed spoke element 19, are the diametrically spaced holes 2'7 and 31; the former being sufficient to admit the head of the bolt 21, and the latter being of a diameter to admit only the shank of said bolt. A wing nut 32, is threadedly engaged on said bolt 21, and is used to maintain the adjustment of the spoke length.

Skeins come in various lengths, but are fairly constant in length for any particular lot. Hence it is necessary to make an initial setting of the various adjustable components of my swift, in order that it be adaptable to receive skeins of the length at hand. Likewise, an initial adjustment is required in order that a skein of a definite bulk may be mounted onto the swift.

So, to use my swift, I adjust the spoke lengths so that the skein 33, when set onto the swift, will be resting on all of the skein supporting bars 28, and be under a maximum tension. To do this, the spoke extension elements 23, are slid into the fixed spoke elements 19, as far as they will go. The skein 33, is then set onto the swift to rest on the skein supporting bars 28. Now, each of the spoke extension elements 23, are slid outward equally, until all of the skein supporting bars 28, are at their furthest inward radial position along the slots 26, and are being urged radially outward by the action of the extended springs '29. Of course, the length of the spokes are adjusted one at a time and are held secure by the wing nuts 32. It is to be noted that the skein 33 is now under a maximum tension imparted to it by virtue of the outward radial urge of the skein supporting bars 28.

The skein guards 30, are now slidably adjusted to such position along the arms 24 and 25, as the bulk of the skein may require, in order that all strands of the skein 33, shall always remain confined between the arms 24 and 25 and their respective extensions, the said skein guards 30. This adjustment capable with the skein guards 30, permits the swift to be adapted to receive skeins of a greater bulk than was usual and practical with swifts heretofore. Such advantage is a labor saving item.

It is apparent that as the skein 33, is being unwound from the swift (strand 34) its remaining strands will loosen, but automatically all slack will be taken up by the outwardly radially urged bars 28, and so, the skein remaining, will always be under tension.

Upon completion of the unwinding of the skein from off the swift, another skein can easily be mounted thereon by manipulation of only one of the spoke elements 23.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of my present invention, I claim:

1. In a swift, a spoke provided with a skein supporting means and an element slidably mounted on the end of the spoke, whereby the swift is adapted to receive skeins of various bulks.

2. In a swift, a spoke provided with a skein supporting means and a skein guard comprising telescopically adjustable elements slidably mounted onto the remote end of the spoke, whereby the swift is adapted to receive skeins of various bulks.

3. In a swift, a spoke, a skein supporting bar flexibly mounted on the spoke in slidable and tiltable relation therewith, and a skein guard slidably mounted on the remote end of the spoke, whereby the swift is adapted to receive skeins of various bulks.

4. In a swift, a spoke terminating in a fork having a pair of arms, and a pair of skein guards mounted slidably, one onto the remote ends of each of said arms, whereby the swift is adapted to receive skeins of various bulks.

5. In a swift, a spoke terminating in a fork having a pair of arms, a skein supporting bar flexibly mounted between said arms in slidable and tiltable relation therewith, and a skein guard element slidably mounted on the remote ends of each of said arms moveable towards and away from the skein supporting bar, whereby the swift is adapted to receive skeins of various 'bulks.

6. In a swift, a spoke terminating in a fork having a pair of tubular arms each provided with a lengthwise slot, a skein supporting bar slidably mounted between said pair of arms through said slots, flexible means within each arm extending between and connecting the ends of said bar with the respective ends of said tubular arms, and cap elements slidably mounted, one onto the remote ends of each of said arms, whereby the swift is adapted to receive skeins of various bulks.

MORRIS W. BECKER. 

